Companion Animals: A Potential Threat in Emergence and Transmission of Parasitic Zoonoses

Abstract

| Recent emergence of zoonotic-parasitic diseases in humans are due to evolution of microbes or parasites with alterations of host ranges, vector system, infectivity, virulence and/or re-occurrence of an unreported infection. Although, zoonotic parasitic diseases of companion animal origin are very familiar and deliberately studied in American and European countries, they are under prioritized areas of human health concern in developing countries like India. Circumstances prevailing in developing countries are favourable for easy and diffuse transmission and surfacing of zoonotic parasitic infections viz. toxoplasmosis, giardiasis, toxacariasis, echinoccosis, leishmaniasis, etc. However, with the implementations of personal hygiene and sanitary measures, appearance and spread of such zoonotic parasitic infections from companion animals can be prevented. Pet owners must be educated in a right way about the potential zoonotic risks, mode of transmission of these infections from their pets. It has been concluded that veterinarians need to play an immense role in educating and creating awareness on transmission and prevention of companion animal zoonoses in humans. This review discusses about the common parasitic zoonoses of companion animals. The primary focus of this review is mostly about canine and feline parasitic zoonoses that were the major threat in the developing nations.

Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness Among Selected Tertiary Students in the Accra Metropolis on Zoonotic Infections

“…Living with animals, eating untreated animal products (such as milk, meat, or eggs), and attending to parturition have all been identified as possible mechanisms of transmission. 34 According to Murugan, 35 the most frequent methods of zoonotic transmission involve direct contact with the skin and mucous membranes through animal bites or scratches, as well as contact with infected animal feces, urine, saliva, other body fluids, and fomites. This may be explained by the fact that, majority of respondents (49.55%) agreed that only direct contact should be used to transmit zoonotic infections, as well as the fact that close contact with an infected animal (69.55%) was a common way for zoonotic infection to spread.…”

Ancylostomiasis, Giardiasis and Isosporiasis in a Domestic Short Hair Cat in Kota Bharu, Malaysia

“…Infections with these 3 parasites are common in different parts of the world in cats and zoonotic transmission to humans (Murugan et al, 2015). Cats with Ancylostoma infection usually will have microcytic hypochromic anaemia due to blood loss because the Ancylostoma spp.…”